Welcome to WKU!

Welcome to Western Kentucky University, home of the Hilltoppers. Our hilltop campus is a place of beauty and friendliness. It embraces a proud heritage
and a bold, ambitious future.

WKU is in the midst of a transformation - physical, intellectual, cultural and economic
– and is becoming A Leading American University with International Reach. Whether in a neighboring community or in a distant country, WKU faculty and students
are engaged in relevant applied research that provides solutions to real problems.

A place where all students can succeed, WKU is the home of the Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science for exceptional Kentucky high school juniors and seniors. The Academy was named
the number one high school in the U.S. in 2012 and 2013 by Newsweek. WKU is proud
to have Kentucky’s first and only independent Honors College in the Commonwealth. WKU honors students enjoy an intimate scholarly environment
on a vibrant campus and are encouraged to become involved in community service, applied
research and study abroad. These are among the reasons why WKU is becoming the university of choice in the
Commonwealth and the intellectual heartbeat of Kentucky.

WKU Vision Statement:

WKU: A Leading American University with International Reach.

WKU Mission Statement:

Western Kentucky University (WKU) prepares students of all backgrounds to be productive,
engaged, and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society. The University
provides research, service and lifelong learning opportunities for its students, faculty,
and other constituents. WKU enriches the quality of life for those within its reach.

WKU Statement of Purpose

As a leading American university with international reach, WKU is engaged in internationally
acclaimed, student-and-learning-centered academic programs. The WKU experience occurs
on several unique campus environments and through an overarching spirit which attracts
an intellectually exciting and diverse family of the nation's best students. WKU provides
students of all backgrounds with rigorous academic programs in education, the liberal
arts and sciences, the health sciences, and business, with emphasis at the baccalaureate
and masters levels, complemented by relevant associate and doctoral level programs.
The University places a premium on student learning; it is committed to ensuring value
in a holistic learning experience through high standards for student achievement and
conduct, a strong faculty, technological innovation, personalized attention, broad
access, and public accountability for actions and outcomes. Out-of-the-classroom and
study abroad experiences enhance learning, promote diversity, and contribute to the
success of students.

The University encourages engaged research, particularly at the undergraduate level,
and public service in support of economic development, quality of life, and improvement
of education at all levels. WKU faculty contribute to the identification and solution
of key social, economic, scientific, health, and environmental problems. An inspiring
and talented faculty promotes a high level of creative activity and diverse scholarship
and an entrepreneurial attitude designed to expand knowledge, improve instruction,
increase learning, and provide applied solutions toward high-quality service to the
state and nation. The University directly supports its constituents in its designated
service areas of Kentucky with professional and technical expertise, cultural enrichment,
and educational assistance.

Maintaining a campus of distinctive history and character, WKU sustains a student
population of increasing quality. It fulfills its responsibility for access through
its main and regional campuses, and through extensive distance learning opportunities.
WKU recognizes that its mission continues to evolve in response to regional, national,
and global changes, and the need for lifelong learning.